What we do
Three sides to a single, flexible chemistry partner.
From a purpose-built plant to a fully-equipped lab, Varichem covers the route from idea to delivered product.
Why Varichem?
Built for small to semi-bulk speciality work.
With expertise at small to semi-bulk scale, a highly flexible plant and a reputation for reliability and speed of service, Varichem is a European source you can build a relationship with.
About the companyFlexible plant
A genuinely multi-purpose facility, configured around small to semi-bulk speciality work — not high-volume commodity output.
Reliability
A reputation built on consistently high-quality product, delivered in spec and on time, batch after batch.
Speed of service
As an SME we respond rapidly to new enquiries and adapt quickly to changing customer requirements.
Confidential & exclusive
Much of what we make is exclusive. Confidential toll and custom work is core to how we operate.
Need a European source of speciality chemical?
Rapid response to customer enquiries and new requirements — tell us what you need.
Company
An independent UK manufacturer of fine & speciality chemicals, founded in 1974.
Varichem rapidly established itself as a leading manufacturer of diazos and couplers for the dyeline industry. Whilst maintaining a strong portfolio for the graphic arts, Varichem now offers custom and toll manufacturing services — from lab to semi-bulk — to a diverse range of end users.
As an SME we respond rapidly to your enquiry and adopt a highly flexible, accommodating approach to customer requirements. Much of what we do is confidential and exclusive, and our reputation is built on consistently high-quality product.
Compounds we have made
Pharmaceutical
Organic intermediates and building blocks for active synthesis.
Cosmetic
Astringents and hair dyes manufactured to specification.
Personal Care
Preservative blends and finished care actives.
Rubber
Additives, accelerators and initiators.
Agrochemical
Growth promoters, inhibitors and intermediates.
Graphic Arts
Diazo resins, photoinitiators and PAGs.
Want a European source of small to semi-bulk speciality chemical?
Fill in our enquiry form or give us a call — we'll respond quickly.
Services
Whatever you need from a chemistry partner, framed around your problem.
A speciality chemical, without the chemistry
We have helped companies — from household blue-chip names to independents and start-ups — since 1974. We take care of your chemical requirements with full analytical back-up, pack and transport to the latest regulations, and can hold finished stock for just-in-time call-off to benefit your cash flow.
Make better use of your vessel time
Take advantage of our toll manufacturing service. We make your material exclusively and under confidentiality, to your exact specification — engineered to integrate seamlessly into your production. With a range of vessels we can make several tonnes per year of a single compound.
From a lab method to 100 kg+ batches
Made a material in the lab but lack the capacity to scale? We have worked with everyone from well-known lab suppliers to the largest multinationals, taking a proven method and scaling it up to 100 kg+ batches.
Light-sensitive chemistry since 1974
Our facility was purpose-built to handle photosensitive production: dyeline diazos and couplers, positive- and negative-working resins for printing plates, photoinitiators and intermediates. We have the expertise to produce and handle these materials safely.
Products
Speciality performance chemicals, made to specification.
Browse a category to search the live product database.
Graphic Arts Chemicals
Positive- and negative-working diazo compounds, capped novolaks and materials for offset plates, silk screen, colour proofing, microfilm and phototool.
Fine & Speciality Chemicals
A wide range of chemicals for pharmaceutical, agrochemical, personal-care and rubber customers — from organic intermediates to finished actives.
Additional & Surplus Chemicals
Surplus stock and raw materials available for sale. Enquire for current availability and quantities.
Chemistry
A broad reaction toolkit, and deep diazonium expertise.
Some of the classes of reaction performed at Varichem:
Diazonium chemistry
A versatile stepping stone to difficult molecules.
From our background in the graphic arts we have developed particular expertise in diazo chemistry. The range of functional-group transformations lets us place substituents on an aromatic ring in positions that straightforward electrophilic substitution can't reach — making the diazonium compound a versatile route to otherwise difficult targets.
Nitration
A nitro group is introduced onto the aromatic ring.
Reduction
The nitro group is reduced to the corresponding amine.
Diazotization
The amine is converted to the reactive diazonium salt.
Replacement
Functional-group transformations reach the target molecule.
Facilities
A purpose-built plant for small to semi-bulk manufacturing.
Production capabilities
10,000 litres total capacity across 19 jacketed reactors, glass-lined and stainless steel, from 20 L to 1350 L.
R&D & kilo-lab
Fully-equipped laboratories for multistep synthesis from grams to kilograms.
Analytical capabilities
Fully-equipped analytical laboratories, with facilities to handle light-sensitive materials.
Chromatography
Spectroscopy
Material Sciences
Wet Chemistry
Contact & Enquiry
Tell us what you need — we respond quickly.
Chemical search
Search the Varichem chemical database.
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